Food Preparation Appliance
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a thermal fluid reservoir formed with an internal cavity for holding a thermal transfer fluid, comprising a thermal contact surface adapted for transferring thermal energy between said thermal fluid reservoir and a food item;
a fluid transfer unit in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said thermal fluid reservoir;
a thermal transfer unit in fluid communication with said fluid transfer unit and with said internal cavity in said thermal fluid reservoir;
a temperature and flow controller in electrical communication with said fluid transfer unit and said thermal transfer unit; and
a user interface module in electrical communication with said temperature and flow controller,wherein said temperature and flow controller is adapted to maintain a temperature of said thermal contact surface at a setpoint temperature received by said temperature and flow controller from said user interface module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A food preparation apparatus includes a thermal fluid reservoir formed with an internal cavity for holding a thermal transfer fluid. A fluid transfer unit circulates the thermal transfer fluid through the reservoir and through a thermal transfer unit. The thermal fluid reservoir may be formed into a food receptacle with a thermal contact surface for the reservoir coincident with a food contact surface in the receptacle. Alternatively, a food receptacle may be formed separately from the reservoir and may either attach to the thermal contact surface or may be easily removable. Embodiments may selectively heat or cool food in the food receptacle by transferring thermal energy between the thermal transfer fluid and the thermal contact surface. A setpoint temperature is accurately maintained everywhere on the thermal transfer surface to avoid hot spots or cold spots in the food receptacle.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a thermal fluid reservoir formed with an internal cavity for holding a thermal transfer fluid, comprising a thermal contact surface adapted for transferring thermal energy between said thermal fluid reservoir and a food item; a fluid transfer unit in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said thermal fluid reservoir; a thermal transfer unit in fluid communication with said fluid transfer unit and with said internal cavity in said thermal fluid reservoir; a temperature and flow controller in electrical communication with said fluid transfer unit and said thermal transfer unit; and a user interface module in electrical communication with said temperature and flow controller, wherein said temperature and flow controller is adapted to maintain a temperature of said thermal contact surface at a setpoint temperature received by said temperature and flow controller from said user interface module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a thermal fluid reservoir formed with an internal cavity for holding a thermal transfer fluid, comprising a thermal contact surface; a food receptacle adapted for a close fit against said thermal fluid reservoir; a fluid transfer unit in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said thermal fluid reservoir; a thermal transfer unit in fluid communication with said fluid transfer unit and with said internal cavity in said thermal fluid reservoir; a temperature and flow controller in electrical communication with said fluid transfer unit and said thermal transfer unit; and a user interface module in electrical communication with said temperature and flow controller, wherein said temperature and flow controller is adapted to maintain a temperature of said thermal contact surface at a setpoint temperature received by said temperature and flow controller from said user interface module. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification